After firing coach Dan Bylsma, the Seattle Kraken have promoted longtime general manager Ron Francis to president of hockey operations, with assistant Jason Botterill taking over day-to-day responsibilities.
The shakeup announced Tuesday comes after the Kraken missed the playoffs for the third time in four years and regressed in Bylsma’s only season behind the bench.
“These changes reflect our commitment to becoming a sustained playoff team,” owner Samantha Holloway said in a statement. “Ron has done an excellent job of building our hockey operations and setting a solid foundation. Our new enhanced structure will allow Ron to continue shaping our long-term vision while empowering Jason day to day."
Francis had been in charge since not long after Seattle’s ownership group was granted an NHL expansion franchise. He and Botterill are now tasked with finding a coach and repairing a roster that is lacking in elite talent.
“I am proud of what we have started here in Seattle and look forward to continuing in my new role as President,” Francis said. “I have worked closely with Jason for many years at both the NHL and international levels. He helped build three Stanley Cup-winning rosters in Pittsburgh and has been a key member of our management team since Day 1. He has demonstrated the ability to construct winning teams, and his experience, leadership, and vision will be invaluable as we continue towards a championship-caliber organization in Seattle."
This is Botterill’s second GM job in the league after he ran the Buffalo Sabres from 2017-20.
“We are focused on taking the next step as a franchise, and for us, next season starts now," Botterill said. "From roster decisions to player development, we will do everything we can to build a team that can compete for the playoffs every year and ultimately bring a Stanley Cup to Seattle.”
That did not happen under Bylsma. The Kraken this past season finished 35-41-6 for 76 points — 20 back of the second and final wild-card spot in the Western Conference — after 81 in 2023-24 for previous coach Dave Hakstol.
Bylsma had been promoted from within after coaching the American Hockey League’s Coachella Valley Firebirds to back-to-back Calder Cup Finals before losing to Hershey. He won the Stanley Cup as Pittsburgh's coach in 2009 and remained with the Penguins through 2014, winning the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year in 2011.
This was his third head-coaching job in the NHL after an ill-fated two-year stint with Buffalo from 2015-17. Bylsma is the third coach fired in as many days after Anaheim moved on from Greg Cronin and the New York Rangers dismissed Peter Laviolette.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL
FILE - In this June 25, 2018, file photo, Buffalo Sabres general manager Jason Botterill addresses the media during an NHL news conference in Buffalo N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes, File)
FILE - Seattle Kraken general manager Ron Francis speaks during an NHL hockey press conference, July 3, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond, file)
Seattle Kraken head coach Dan Bylsma speaks during a postgame press conference after an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
TORONTO (AP) — Alejandro Kirk hit a game-ending, bases-loaded single in the 10th inning and the Toronto Blue Jays overcame a six-run deficit to beat the Boston Red Sox 7-6 in Lucas Giolito's return on Wednesday night, stopping a three-game losing streak.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. started the 10th as the automatic runner on second, Justin Slaten (0-1) intentionally walked Daulton Varsho and George Springer with one out and Kirk singled to left.
Jeff Hoffman (3-0) struck out three in two hitless innings.
Anthony Santander tied the score in the seventh with his fourth home run this season, a three-run drive off Garrett Whitlock.
Kirk and Varsho started the rebound from a 6-0 deficit with back-to-back homers in the sixth off Giolito, who made his Red Sox debut more than 15 months after signing a a $38.5 million. two-year contract, Giolito didn’t pitch last season because of a partial tear in his right ulnar collateral ligament, then had been sidelined since spring training due to a strained left hamstring.
Toronto began the night with 16 homers, 29th among the 30 teams, and hit three homers in a game for the first time this season.
Yariel Rodríguez's run-scoring balk and Alex Bregman's seventh homer built a 2-0 lead in the first, and Jarren Duran hit an RBI single in the second and scored on Rafael Devers' double. Carlos Narváez stretched the lead to 6-0 with a two-run homer off Chad Green in the sixth.
Kirk lined a single over Jarren Duran to end the game.
Toronto scored more than four runs for the first time since a 6-3 win over Atlanta on April 15.
Red Sox RHP Tanner Houck (0-2, 7.58 ERA) is expected to start against Toronto RHP José Berríos (1-1, 4.24) on Thursday.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Toronto Blue Jays' Bo Bichette, left, leads off first base as Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (54) throws in the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (54) throws to a Toronto Blue Jays batter in the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (54) throws to a Toronto Blue Jays batter in first inning American League baseball action in Toronto on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Red Sox's Carlos Narvaez (75) celebrates hitting a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in sixth inning American League baseball action in Toronto on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr, left, and Anthony Santander (25) celebrate after Santander hit a three-run home run against the Boston Red Sox in seventh inning American League baseball action in Toronto on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays' Anthony Santander (25) runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run against the Boston Red Sox in seventh inning American League baseball action in Toronto on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk (30) hits a walk-off RBI single in tenth inning American League baseball action to defeat the Boston Red Sox in Toronto on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk (30) hits a walk-off RBI single in tenth inning American League baseball action to defeat the Boston Red Sox in Toronto on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk, centre facing, celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off RBI single in tenth inning American League baseball action to defeat the Boston Red Sox in Toronto on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk (30) runs to first base after hitting a walk-off RBI single in tenth inning American League baseball action to defeat the Boston Red Sox in Toronto on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
